Conveyer.



PATBNTBD JAN. zo, 1903.

W. E. WINAN T. CONVEYBR. APPLIoATroN FILED un. s

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PATENTED JAN. 20, 190...

W. E. WINANT.

CONVEYER.

nrmorrlon FILED un. s, 1902.

PATENT'ED JAN. 2o, 1903.

w.1:. WINANT.

ooNvEYER. APPLIUATIOH FILED 51H. 8, 1902A 6 SHEETS-SHEET L F0 MODEL.

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PATBNTED JAN. 20, 1903. W. E. WINANT.

CONVEYER.

Arrnloulon FILED un. s, 19042.

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N. 718,745. PATENTBD JAN. 20, '1903.

` W. E. WINANT.

GONVEYER.

APPLXOLTION FILED JAN. 8, 1902. v I0 HODEL. 6 SHEETS- SHEET 6.

UNITED STATES anni arenas PATENT OFFICE.

CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 718,745, dated January20, 1903.

Application liled January 8, 1902. Serielle. 88.876. 'No model.)v

5 proveniente in Conveyers; and I hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference bein ghad to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

:e This invention is an improvement in conveyers, and has especialreference to devices for transporting ammunition from the magazine-tothe guns or`to the several decks on which guns are located when used onwar- 15 ,ships or from the magazines to the guns of forts. Itisyespecially designed for use on warships wherein, the. magazines arelocated in the hold at the ends of the vessel, while the guus arelocated several decks above and in 'zo some cases a hundred, feet awayfrom the magazine. The conveyer is intended to transport all kinds ofammunition from the magazine to the gun direct, and any ammunition thatisnot required at the guns passes on and 25 is returned to andautomatically delivered in the magazine.

The objects of the present invention are, first, to provide a conveyerby which ammunition is kept constantly going to and by the 3egnu-station, and if not desired at the gun is.

immediately returned to the magazine and by which ammunition can besupplied to one gun or a plurality of guns at the maximum rate at whichthe guns can be fired; second,l 35 to provide a conveyor by which allkinds of ammunition can be conveyed from the magazine to the gun directWithout manhandling in transit and which automatically picks up allkinds of ammunition placed on the loader 4o in the magazine andautomatically conveys it to the gun-station, the receipt of ammunitionat the gun-station being controlled solely by the gun captain; third, toprovide a couveyer which after it has carried ammunition 43 to the gun,if it is not desired at the gun,

'will return it to and antomaticallydeliver it inthe magazine and bywhich unused or drill ammunition may be returned from the gun or maindeck of a vessel to and automatically 5o delivered in the magazine;fourth, to provide novel receiving or unloading devices for re- Amovingortaking the ammunition fromthc conveyer while-it is in"n motionand-:wlmi while in motion will safely deliver ammu tion ou a. receiJing-table at the gun with( having to be slowed down or stopped. Th1several objects arc practically attaixed in 1 present invention; --fan'dthe.accompanyl drawings illustrate-fone YformA and arr-an; ment ofammunition conveyer embodyi my invention as applied to a war vessel, a lwill describe the invention as illustrai therein, referring tothe claimsfollowing 1 description for a summary of the varii novel featuresandcmbinations,ofgpa upon which I desire protection, 'for althoi lconsider the conveyor@ pwn in ,thedri ings the bestand most" practicalformi: known to me it will ,obvious that ,nis changes can be made inthemechanical c struction and arrangement of parts entr within the scope ofmy present inventi which I do not consider restricted to the 1 ticularembodiment and application ther illustrated in the said drawingsf.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudi sectional elevation of aportion of a war-sl showing one of myfammiinition conveg therein. Fig.ais'a-,plan view of Fig. 1v

Vthe main deck removed,A `Fig. 3 is an enlar side elevation oftheportion of the conve apparatus within thenia'gaziri e.V Figgdtiienlarged plan of thel loading and' unload apparatus in the magazinesFig.: 5-is`-an larged plan 'viewof the ,conyeyerpropell mechanism. figaL16 fisglan i .enlarged s through the cnveyerpparatus in the secgun-station. Fig? is a plan view'of 'so in of the conveyor as is shownin Fig. 6. Fig. au enlarged plan view of one of the carri Fig. 9, atransverse section therethrough, Fig. 10 an end view thereof. Figs. 11au are detail top and end views of the unloaj tripping mechanism. Fig.13 is a detail t of one of the carrier-chains. V designates part of th'ehull of a war sel, having an upper or mainde'ck V', a; deck V", belowwhich is a protective decla under which are the boiler-room Vf, lcbunkers V 5 V6, dynamo-rooms V7, and m` zines, one, V, being shown. Thepartie arrangement of these compartments wil course vary with thecharacter and buil the vessel, and have simply chosen this 'naast mlarbuild of vessel to illustrate one pracl the chains pass u toand overpulleysI I on a :ai application of the invention. Between shaft I',journal in the up rend of casing el decks V' V* are a number of gnuinclorcs or stations, Nos. '1, 2, and 3, arranged substantiallyhorizontal series, and in each ation is located a gun, to whichammunition to be supplied from the magazine V', and r simplicity ofexplanation it is assumed lat each gun is of same size and uses the mekind and quantity of ammunition. Guniclosu re No. 1 is locatedvertically above .the`

lagazine, sqthat ammunition can be taken 'om the magazine through avertical trunk into inclosure No. l, within which,above ne upper end oftrunk c, is conveyer-head asing B, which should be made of stout metal aable of withstanding severe blows and hocks without injury to orderangement of he conveyertherein. In the other inclosures, los. 2 and3, similar conveyer-headcasings B are formed. Each conveyer-head casnghas an opening b in one side for the deivery of ammunition,and m'ay havean openng in its opposite side for the loading of amnunition onto theconveyer, as hereinafter sxplained. The casings B B' are connected n'communicate through a horizontal trunk u', formed just below thegun-deck VV, and :asings B' B are similarlyconnected by a like trunk vbelow the gun-deck Y. From the last inclosnre, No. 3, a verticalconveyertrunk v leads downward to and below the protective deck V, whereit connects withihe aft end of a horizontal trunk v, that leads forwardthrough and.above the boiler and dynamo rooms to the upper end of themagazine V. The trunks v v 1J v Iv and casngs B B' B* together form acontinuous but tortuous conveyer trunk or passage leading from themagazine successively to the several gunstations 4and back to themagazine, and through this passage an endless ammunitionconveyeristraveled, said conveyor being conatrncted and arranged as follows:

In a chamber V below the magazine are a pair of suitably-spacedsprocketqzears C C, eyed on a shaft C', journaled in a frame C, fixed tothe lower platform of .the magazine, these gears being driven by powerapplied to shaft C', as hereinafter explained. Under these sprockets runendless roller sprocketchains D D, which pass from sprockets C to andunder grooved pulleys E E, mounted on a shaft E', supported invertically-adjustable bearings E, suitably supported or suspended withinthe chamber V, said tlcally below the trunk v, so that thesprocketchains can pass up vertically through said trunk to and oversimilar F, mounted on a shaft F', casing B. From pulleys F the chainsdescend pulleys being vergrooved pulleys F` 'onrnaled in the to andunder grooved pulleys G on a shaft G', journaled in the forward end oftrunk 'u' just chains pass back to and under sprocket below casing B,and from pulleys G the wheels H H on a shaft H', jou'rnaled in the rearend of trunk v' just below casing B'. Thence B', thence down to and uner pulley .I on a shaft J', iournaled below casing B 'in the forward endof trunk n. thence back to and under sprocket-wheel K n shaftVX',journaled in the aft end of trunk v, thence u and over pulleys L on ashaft L', jonrnaled n the npr end of casing B. Thence the chainsdownthrough trunk c to and under pnl eys M on shaft M', journaled in theVaft end of trunk v. Then the chains lead forward over pulleys N N on ashaft N', journaled transversely of the trunk n, and onto and overpulleys -O O on `a shaft O' in the magazine V above thedriving-sprockets C, from which the chains paas back tosald sprocket.Thus the chains make a complete circuit from the magazine to andthroughpach casing B B' B in the several gun-inclosures and back to themagazine, Itraveling a tortuous but endless path. These chains may be ofkind. I preferably employ what are known as the Jeffrey patent rollerlink-chains, the links of which are .provided with rollers which relievethe chain of much friction. The horizontal leads of the' chains withinthe trunks v', i?, and v may be supported by horizontal angle irons orways spectively, these portions of the conveyor when loaded carriers arepassing thereby.

Between the opposite chains D D at uniform distances apart are hu'ug theammunition-carriers Q Q, which are preferably open at top and one side,and bottoms are composed of a series of equidistant fingers Q', whichare preferably slightly concaved, as shown, so as to prevent shells orpowder-tanks slipping from the carriers en -foute The any suitable.

P P' I, reas shown, to prevent sagging of backs and ends of thesecarriers may be stamped' from'sheetfsteelin one piece Q', and

the lingers maybe separately formed and at-j.

the back of cartachedto the lower edge of rier, as shown. In order toaus nd the carriers pivotally from the chains D, seine of the links ofthe latter are 'provided with inwardly-projecting horizontell-dispoeedlugs or pintles d, rovided with en rged heads or flanges d'. bearings q,which are secured to the ends of the carriers, so that the carriers arethus freely suspended from and between chains D D and at the same timeform a bond between the chains. The sprockets C .C being fast on sameshaft and being the propelling means for the chains the latter are keptand moved in unison, so that the carriers always hsng freelytherebetween and always maintain the same position, the bearings q beingso located on the ends of the carriers that the latter will by gravitymaintain their horizontal position loaded or unloaded. The pintles d arelong enough to clear the flanges on the pulleys, and in passing thepulleys F I L N O the carriers pass between the pulleys,

but over their shafts. To prevent accidental Ilo These heads are fittedin split tipping of the carriers Q in the vertical trunks v 11, thecarriers have vertically grooved guides q' attached to their ends infront of the bearings q ahd vertical lips q attached totheir ends inrear of the bearings. The guides q are adapted to engage verticalguiderails R in thetrunk v and casings B B' B2 as the carriers passupwardly therein, and lips q are adapted to engage vertical groovedguides R' in the casings B B' B, trunk v, and magazine as the carriersdescend therein, as shown. In the horizontal portions o[ the severaltrunks the bottoms of the carriers run so near the bottoms of the trunksthat accidental tipping is impossible.

I prefer to employ electricity as the motive power for operating theconveyer, but do not limit myself thereto. As shown, a gear C, keyed onshaft C', meshes with a pinion Cs on a counter-shaft C, on which iskeyed a large gear C7, meshing with and driven by a small pinion C8 on'the armature-shaft of an electric motor C, which is connected with thegenerating apparatus on the ship, suitable controlling apparatus beingprovided for regulating the speed of the motor and for changing itsspeed, if desired. Such apparatns being commonly known and forming nopart of the present invention, I deem it unnecessary to explain orillustrate it herein. The motor should be of suiicent power to propelthe conveyer loaded at any desired predetermined rate of speed withcertainty and uniformity.

The conveyer is always loaded on the ascending side and is unloaded onthe descending side, and the preferred means for loading and unloadingthe conveyer are as follows: The loading-table S is located in themagazine V8 beside the vertical run of the conveyer therethrough. Theend of this table next the conveyer is provided with eyes s, throughwhich passes a rock-shaft s', and on this shaft are fixed a series offingers S', which when lowered into a horizontal position extend intothe pathof the conveyer and will come intel-mediate the fingers Q' onthe carriers Q, the fingers of the carriers passing .between the fingerson the loading-table, as'shown in Fig. 4. When not loading, the shaft s'can be turned, so as to raise fingers S' into a vertical position out ofthe way of the carriers. When a shell T or a powder-tank t is placed onthe table and shoved onto the fingers S', the latter being lowered, asshown in Fig. 3, the ii'rst ammunition-carrier that passes theloading-table will liftthe shell or tank therefrom and carry it upwardand into the several gun-stations until it is taken from the carrier,and if not taken therefrom it will be brought back into the magazine andthere be removed from the carrier by the unloading device in themagazine, which consists of an inclined table U, having a series offingers U' attached to one end next the conveyer and adapted to comeintermediate the fingers Q' of the carriers as the latter descend, sothat the shell or tank on the carrier will remain suspended on thefingers U' while the uuloaded carrier passes onward. The unloader U and-tingers U' are preferably set at a sufficient angle to cause the shellor tank to slide down out of the way of the next earrier; .but inpractice there should be crews of men stationed at the loading andunloading tables to supply ammunition to the former and remove anyammunition delivered to the latter to prevent choking up of theunloading-table.

.In action or at drill the ammunition would be taken from the carrier atsome one of the gun-stations, as desired. For this purpose each casing BB' B2 is provided with an ammunition taker or receiver, consistiugof atable W, preferably slightly inclined and 1ocated adjacent to theopening b in the casing, and to the inner end of the table is pivoted ahorizontal shaft W,on which vare fixed a series of fingers W', adaptedto come intermediate the fingers Q' on the carriersQ when the shaft W2is rocked so as to throw fingers W into the casing, as shown in Figs. 1and 5. The shaft W2 is providedwith an operating-handle W", carrying aweight W, by which the shaft will be normally held with fingers W' ontof operative position. When the gun captain desires ammunition, heraises lever W, throwing fingers W' into the path of the carriers Q (seeFig. 6) and holds the lever until the next descending carrier passes,leaving its burden upon ngers W', which are then thrown upward andoutward, discharging the ammunition onto the table W. Thus the guncaptain can take ammunition as often as he needs it. The shaft W2 isautomatically rocked to throw the fingers W'out of the casing each timea load is received on the fingersW', as follows, (see Figs. 11 and 12 :lOn the inside of each casing B B' Bz just below opening b is journaled arock-shaft w, having on its inner end a crank-arm w', car rying at itsfree end a roller w, adapted ta bear against the under side of one ofthe iinI gers W and loosely confined thereto by i guard-loop w', asshown in Fig. 12. On the other end of shaft w is keyed a segment wlwhich meshes with a similar segment'w or the end of a trip-lever w",pivoted at w ant projecting inwardly close beside the run o: theadjacent chain D. (See Figs. 12 and 6.1 When the fingers W arethrown'inward inti receiving position, crank w' is depressed rockingshaft w and throwing lever w nl into the position shown in Fig. 12,where i will be engaged by a trip-roller dl5 on a pin d on one of thelinks of the adjacent chain D such a trip-roller being attached to thechair adjacent to every carrier Q and in such posi tion that just afterauch carrier has passei below the fingers W', leaving its burdelthereon, roller d5 strikes trip-lever wi, de presses the latter, therebyrocking shaft t and throwing arm w upward, lifting finger W' out of theway of the next carrier into th the magazine or position shown in dottedlines, Fig. 12, and weight W holding them thus until the guncaptainthrows them inward again by hand, as above described. To prevent theammu nition ilying off the carriers at the forward turns o! theconveyor, guards Y Y may be placed at proper points in the trunk andcasings, as shown in Fig. 1. The speed of the conveyer in action shouldbe such that the maximum number of pieces of ammunition at which the guncan be tired per minute should be constantly passing the severalammunition-receivers in the respective gunstations, thereby allowingeach gun captain to take off ammunition as required, the ammunition thatis not taken passing on and being retnrned to and automaticallydelivered in the magazine. In practice the charges of powder and shellshould be loaded alternately on the conveyor, so that the captains canget the-de sired supply of ammunition.

The conveyer may be utilized for loading striking down the ammunition byproviding loading-tables at any suitable points in the ascending trunks.Such tables X are shown inconnection with casings B B'. These tables X Xconstitute the doors or closures for openings b' in the sides of thecasings when not in use and are hinged to the casings at the lower edgesof the openings. When opened and dropped to a horizontal position, asshown in Fig. 5, they are supported by legs X. At the lower or inner endof table X is pivoted a short plate X', which when the carriers Q pass(ascending) will be lifted out of the way by the rear side of thecarriers, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Opposite the plate X'are a series of ngers pivoted on brackets attached to division-plates BBor other suitable supports within the casings B B'. The iingers a: whenraised to vertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, arelout of the way and may be held by-catches as* and areso held during theoperation of the apparatus for carrying ammunition to the gun-stations.If, however, it is desired to strike down or return ammunition to themagazine, the doors X are opened and lingers a: lowered, as shown infull lines in Fig. 6. The lingers :n in this position (like fingers S',T', and W) will lie or pass between the fingers Q of the carriers. Theammunition can then be shoved onto fingers a: and will be liftedtherefrom by the next ascending carrier Q and taken on and back to themagazine.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that by my improvedapparatus am munition can be conveyed from the magazine to one or moregnn-stations successively and can be taken therefrom at the will of theguncaptains, or if not taken thereform the ammunition will be returnedto the magazine; also, that the apparatus can be utilized for loadingthe magazine or for returning to the magazine any unused ammunition inthe sevt eral stations, that the only man-handling of the ammunitionrequired is that of placingit upon the loading-fingers or removing itfrom the unloading-tables, that the device is quite com pact and greatlyeconomizes space, which is most important in vessels, and that its speedcan be easily regulated by varying the current applied to the motor. Theshafts of sprockets C, H, and K may be provided with cranks or othersuitable means for turning them by hand-power, so that in cases ofemergency or any breakage of the mechanical motlg.; the conveyers can bepropelled by manual While I have described the carriers as provided withload-supporting lingers at bottom, it is obvious that they mightaccurately be described as having open slots in their bottoms throughwhich the loading and unloading ngers or devices can pass, the eect andoperation being identical in either event.

The invention, while designed and primarily intended for use as auammunition hoist or conveyer, may obviously be usefully employed andreadily adapted for handling other material, and therefore I do notrestrict myself to the'specic combinations and features of constructionand particular application or utilization of the invention herein shownand described, nor do I restrict myself to the employment of electricityas the motive power for the conveyer.

Having thus described my invention,what I therefore claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. The combination of a magazine, two or more gun-stations above thesame arranged in substantially horizontal series and endless chainsleading from the magazine to the several gun-stations, pulleys forcarrying and guiding said chains, and means for propelling them; aseries of carriers suspended from and between the chains so as tomaintain a horizontal position, saidcarriers having a seriesofload-carrying 'ngers forming their bottoms; `with means for loadingthe carriers within the magazine, and means for taking the loads fromthe carriers in each of the gunstations, said means comprising tln gersadapte'd to be thrown into the path of the carriers and to take the loadtherefrom as the latter descend, substantially as described.

2. The combination in an ammunition-carrier, of endless chainsleadingfrom the magazine to and through the several gun-stations andreturn, and means for causing said chains to make bends or loops in thegun-stations, and a series of carriers suspended by and between thechains; with means for loading the carriers within the magazine, andammunitiontakers in the gun-stations, adapted to be thrown into the pathof the carriers at the descending side of the bends, and means forthrowing the takers out of the way when the carriers have passed,substantially as described.

3. The combination in an ammunition-carrier, of endless chains leadingfrom the maga IOC 'nexus zine to and through the several gun-stationsand return, means for causing said chains to make vertical bends orloops in the gunsta tions, and a series of carriers suspended by andbetween the chains, said carriers being open at one side, and havingtheir bottoms formed by transverse iingers; with menus for loading thecarriers within the magazine, and ,the ammunition-takers in thegun-stations, comprising fingers adapted to be thrown into the path ofthe carriers at the descending side of the bends, and means for throwingthe iingers out of the way when the carriers have passed, substantiallyas and for the purpose described. A

4. The combination of atraveling-con veyer carrier having an open side,and a series of transversel y-disposed loadfsupportin g fingers for itsbottom; with load receiving or taking fingers normally outside the pathof the carrier, and manually-controlled means for moving said fingersinto the path of the carrier, a rock-shaft having a crank-arm underlyingthe fingers, and a trip-lever and connections for operating therock-shaft, and a trip-lug moving with the carrier adapted to engagesaid lever when the taking-iingers-have received the load from thecarrier, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a traveling-conveyer carrier having an open sideand a series of transversely-disposed load-supporting ngers for itsbottom; with a load receiver or taker, comprising a table, a series offingers hinged thereto normally outside the path of the carrier, andmanually-controlled means for moving said fingers into the path of thecarrier, a rock-shaft beside the taker having a cran karm underlying thefingers, and a trip-lever and connections for operating therock-shaft,and a trip-lug moving with the carrier adapted to engage said lever whenthe taking-fingers have received the load from the carrier,substantially as described.v

6. The combination of an endless conveyer, the carrier pivotally hungthereon, having an open front and a series of transversely-disposedngers forming its bottom, and a loadreceiver, comprising a table, a rockshaft journaled thereon, aseries of fingers fixed on said shaft, adaptedwhen the shaft is rocked in one position to enter the path of thecarrier and to pass between the carrier-tingers and take the loadtherefrom, and a weighted lever for rocking said shaft and holding thetaking-fingers normally out of operative position; with a rock-.shaftbeside the receiver, a segment thereon, a toothed trip-lever engagingthe segment, and a crank-arm on said rock-shaft for throwing thereceiving-fingers out of the path of the carrier when they have taken aload, and a trip-lug on the chain for operating said trip-lever, allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. An endless ammunition-conveyer comprising two parallel endlesschains, and a series of gravitating carriers pivotally connected to andsuspended between said chains and constantly maintaining by gravity ahorizontal position both on the ascending and descending runs of thecarrier; said carriers being closed on one side and both ends, open onthe other side and having transverse iingers attached to the sideforming its bottom, with means for loading the carriers while they aremoving vertically upward and for unloading them while they are movingverically downward, substantially as described. 8. In a conveyer, acarrier open at one side and having load-sustaining fingers attached tothe closed side and forming its bottom, and

means for moving said carrier in an endless path; with an unloadingdevice beside *the downward run of the conveyer and normally outof thepath of the carrier, said device having fingers adapted to come betweenthe fingers of the carrier and take the load therel from while thecarrier is descending, and man ually-operated means for throwing said unloading device into the path of the carriers.

9. The combination of an endless conveyerl a series of carriers pivotally suspended there from provided with loadsustaining fingers, z set offingers whereby the' carriers may b1 loaded during their upwardmovements, anc' a set of fingers beside the descending run o: theconveyer, for unloading .the carriers dur ing their downward movementswith manu ally-operated means for th rowing said un loading-ngers intothe path of the carrien and automatically-operated means for throw ingthem out of the path of the carriers afte receiving a load therefrom,substantially a described.

l0. In a conveyer, the combination of a pai of parallel endless chains,carriers pivot ally suspended therefrom and therebetweei adapted toconstantly maintain a horizonte position, each carrier being open, atone sid and havin'g parallel load-supporting finger attached to itsother side and forming its bot tom with an unloading device havingfinger adapted to project between .the chains ani into the pathof thecarriers and come intel mediate the iingers thereon, substantallyadescribed. I

11. In a conveyer, the combination of a pai of parallel endless chains,carriers suspende therebetween and therefrom and constantl maintainingahorizontal position on both th vertical and horizontal runs of thechain: each carrier being open on one side and hat 'ing a series ofparallel load-supporting iii gers attached to its other side andprojectin transversely of the carrier to form its bottoxr with a loadingdevice, and an unloading d1 vice, each having a series of fingers adapteto project between the chains into the pat of the carrier and comeintermediate the fix gers thereon, substantially as described.

12. In an ammunition-conveyer, the con bination of the magazine,theparallel endlei chains passingtherethrough, and carriers pi'otallysuspended from and between said chair Wren'. uw -f i each beingopen at its front side and closed at rear and both ends and havingaseries of parallel load-sustaining fingers projecting from the rearside thereof; with a loading device and an unloading device in themagazine, each device having a series of ilngers adapted to projectbetween the chains into the path of the carriers and to comeintermediate the fingers thereon, so that the carriers can takeammunition from the loader while they ascend, and deliver ammunition tothe unloader while theydescend,substantiallyasdescribed.

13. The combination of a series of stations, and an endless conveyorleading successively to the several stations; anda series of carriers onsaid conveyer each carrier being open at its front side, and closed atits rear side, a series of forwardly-projectingload-sustaining fingersattached to said rear side with an unloading device in each stationlocated normally outside the path of the conveyer, andmanually-controlled means for throwing the unloading device in anystation into the path of the conveyer whereby loads may be taken fromthe conveyer in any station at the will of the operator therein,substantially as described.

14. In an ammunition-conveyer, the combination' of a magazine, a seriesofl gun-stations, and an endless conveyer leading from the magazine tothe several stations and return, and a series of carriers on saidconveyer each carrier being open at its front side, and closed at itsrear side, a series of forwardly-projecting load-sustaining ngersattached to said rear side; with means for loading the conveyer-carriersin the magazine, and an unloading device in each station locatednormally outside the path of the conveyer, and manually controlled meansfor throwing the unloading device in any station into the path of theconveyor.

15. In an ammunition-conveyor, the combination of a magazine, agun-station, endless chains leading from the magazine to the-stef tionand back to the magazine, and carriers pvotally suspended between thechains open at front side and closed on both ends and rear side havingload-supporting lingers projeeting from the rear side and forming thecarrier-bottom; with an unloading-table in the gun-station havingtilting 'lingers normally standing outside the path of the carriers andmanually-controlled means for tilting the lingers into the path of thecarriers to take ammunition therefrom, substantially as described.

.16. The combination of a magazine, a series of gun-stations, an endlessconveyer composed of parallel chains leading from the magazinesuccessively to the several stations and back to the magazine, saidconveyer making loops or bends in each station, and carriers pivotallysuspended between the chains having load-supporting fingers at bottom;with an unloading-table in each gun-station having hinged iingersadapted to be tilted to a position intermediate the lingers on thecarriers and manually-operated means for throwing the fingers intooperative position, substantially as described.

17. The combination of a magazine, aseries of gun-statins, an endlessconve-yer leading from the magazine to the several gun-stations andmaking a bend in each station, and carriers on the conveyor pivotallysuspended so asto'constantly maintain a horizontal position; with anunloading device in each guntation standing normally out of the path ofthe carriers, and manually-controlled means `for moving the unloadingdevice in any gunstation into the path of the carriers to takeammunition therefrom at the will oi.' the gun captain. substantially asdescribed.

18. The combination of a magazine, aseries of gun-stations above thesame and endless chains leading from the magazine to the severalgun-stations, pulleys for carrying and guiding said chains both on thevertical and horizontal runs of the conveyor, means for propelling thechains, and a series of carriers suspended from and between the chainsso as to constantly maintain a horizontal position on the vertical andhorizontal runs of ithe chains; each carrier being open at its frontside and closed at the rear side and having a series oftransversely-arranged ugers attached to the rear side withmanually-controlled means for taking the loads from the carriers in anyone of the gun-stations as desired by the gun captain therein,substantallly as described.

'19. In an ammunition-conveyer, the com bination of a vertical trunk, anendless conveyer passing therethrough provided with carriers, an openingat the outer side of the trunk and a loading device hinged to the innerside of the trunk opposite said opening onto which loads may be placedwhen striking down ammunition, substantially as described.

20. The combination with a conveyor-carrier, having one side open andload-supporting ngers attached-to its solid side, and s. loading-tableat the outer side of the conveyer-passage; with a series ofloading-iingers hinged to the side ot the conveyer-passage'opposite theloadingtable onto which ngers loads may be placed when striking downammunition substantially as described.

21. The combination of the endless conveyer and carriers thereon eachopen at one side and provided with load-sustaining -ngers attached toits single side and forming of the couveyer-casing adjacent to the opensides of the carriers, at the ascending side of the conveyer, saidloader having a series of lingers adapted to come between the fingers ofthe carriers and permit the latter to take loads therefrom as theyascend, substantially as and for the purpose described.

22. In an amnxunition-conveyer, the comits bottom; with a loaderattached to the side Ilo bination of the endless conveyer leading fromthe magazine to the gun-station, and makin! a bendjn auch station,ammunition-carriers on said conveyer open at one side and providmwithparallel load-sustaining fingers at- .tached to its solid side andprojecting therefrom, and a loading-table at the ascending side of thebend; with ammunirionsupport ing fingers attached to the inner side ofthe conveyer casing or trunk, opposite the loading-table, arid adaptedto pass between the fingers of the carriers as the latter ascend wherebythe carriers are enabled to take leads from the fingers, substantiallyas set forth.

23. In'a loading apparatus, the combination of an endless conveyer, aseries of carriers pivotally suspended therefrom so as tp constantlymaintain a horizontal position, a loading-table at the ascending.r sideof the con veyer, a movable carrier-loader within the conveyer-casing,at the ascending side thereof, and opposite the table onto which loadsare placed preparatory to being removed by the carriers, the loads beingtaken from the loader by the carriers as they ascend and 'neme takenupwardly and then down to the discharging-point, substantially asdescribed.

24. In an ammunition-conveyer, the com bination of an endless conveyor,carriers snspended therefrom to maintain a horizontal position, saidcarrier being open on its front side and closed at rear side and havinga seriesof load-sustainingfingersprojecting from its rear side; withaioadng-table located at the ascending side of the conveyer and providedwith a seri of movable fingers adapted to project int the path of thecarriers as they ascend and to support loads to he remove by thecarriers, said fingers being movable out of the path of the carrierswhen it is not desired to load them substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. WINANT.

Witnesses:

AUTEUR E. DowaLL, JAMES R. MANSFIELD.

